Electric switch



Nov. 1 1927,

E. RATNER ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 2, 1924 INVENTOR. 552 625 Rain/6rBY 2//% I ATTORNEY.

Fiqli Ba i Patented Nov. 1, 1927..

UNITED TES PLA .OFFI'C arms eme, on NEW Yoax, -Y.,.Assio1von or ONE-HALFT ABRAHAM .1. I 'BATNEB, QI'NEW'YOBK, .N-Y-

- ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application fi1ed Apr-il02, 924. Serial No. 703,692

7 The present invention'relates toelectric switches and is moreparticularly directed toward a pull-chain switch suitable rforuse as asocket switch.

The present invention contemplates :a

' switch structure which may be made 'slifii ciently compact so that'itmaybe inserted into a standard sized socket shellafter it has beenassembled. It also contemplates-a switch structure made out1ofia1smallnum ber of easily madeparts so designedas-to facilitate the assembly ofthe switch. I

The construction is such .that' snflioiently large contacts andconductors maybe employed, and hence'the switch is well suited inginechanism', improved devices :for 0on necting and for guiding the pullchain,.and an improved mode of coupling the insulating parts'togetherwithithe switchmechanisin enclosed thereby. 7

Another object of the present invention is to provide parts so designedthat metalparts may be formed out ofsheet. metal, -and insulating partsmay be moulded out of insulating material. V

Other and further objects of thepresent invention will appear asatheillustrative :embod'iment is described.

The drawings show forpurposes of illustrating the invention, one of the.many possible embodiments in which'thepresent .in-

V vention may take form, it being-understood that the drawings aremerelyillustrativevof the invention which may be embodied in variousforms.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is avertical'sectional view through the socket switch taken onthe line 1-1 of Figures 2 to 5 inclusive, showingxthe-switch operatingmechanism inan intermediateposition; I

Fig. 2.is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 lookingtoward the left;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line-3+3 of Fig.1- lookingtoward the right; F ig. 41 115 avertical section takenv on the line v4.-4.-ofa17ig. l'looking-toward the left; 7. .Fb isahorizontalsection-taken .on the, line .-5=5 of-Figs. .1 to 4inclusive-showingthe switch operatingimechanism in one extreme positionFig.- 6is1a vertical section showing fragments of .constructionand takenon the line- 6- 6.of Fig.8;

,Fig. 1.7 isqa vertical section showing fragments of construction andtaken on the line 7 7 of Fig.x;9; 7

Figs. 28 and 9am elevational views showingtherbinding posts; andexternalcontacts;

v :Fig. 10;is-aperspectiveview illustrating the assembling of. theinsulating elements of the switch; V f

:IFigtll is .a perspective view illustrating the, assembling ofthezhornfor the pull chain on one of the insulati-ngelements; 1

Fig. :12 shows three views of the movable contact or bridging memberand'operating ratchet wheel, :the wiping surfaces of the bridging memberbeing omitted from one of-saidaviews.

Fig. 13..shows.three views of a rocking operatingmember. for actuating.the movable contact member;

ig.il4 isa section taken on theline li -14 ofFig. 13; v

Fig. ;1=5 shows.two views of the pawl; and

Figs. 16 and 17 are sectional and side elevational views of a pull chainhorn.

The socket-switchshown'in the drawings for purposes of illustrating theinvention has a: moreon less conventionalouter metal shell 20insulatingshell .21 1 and threaded socket contact 22. For conveniencethe invention wilhbe described by reference to a socket switch; althoughit is of course obvious that manyfeatures of the device are susceptibleof use inothentypes of switch.

An insulating body 23 is. disposed in the upper-.endo'f the shellandthis body encloses theswitching mechanism. The body is made upibyassembling two .L-shaped elements 24 andg25 in the manner indicated inFigure 10. Thecgeneral configuration of these elements is the same.Theyhave circular disk-like end .walls'-26 rand v2.7, andsemi-cylindrical prismatic portions 28 and 29 which extend from the side:of .theirespective' end walls.

The external shape of these parts is here determined by the shellstructure into which they are inserted.

The insulating element 24 carries the fixed contacts 30 and 31 of theswitch in a recess 32 in the inner face33 of the prismatic portion 28.These contacts are shown as being arc-shaped, and are preferablyprovided with concaved areas or recesses 34- and 35. The upper contact30 is fastened in a recess 36 and a screw 37 connects it to a plate 33carrying a binding screw 39. These screws and the plate are in a recess40 of suitable size to facilitate the coupling of a lead wire.

The lower fixed contact 31 is connected by a screw 31 to a centralcontact 31 adapted to cooperatewith the center contact of a plugthreaded into the socket 22.

The other insulating element 25 has a recess or groove L1 on its outersurface and a conducting strip 42 is mounted therein. The upper end ofthis strip is anchored by a screw 43, and is provided with a bindingscrew 414:, while the lower end extends across the lower face of theinsulating element as shown in Figure 9 where it may be connected withthe socket 22 by a screw T5 which passes through the socket and anaperture in the end wall of the other insulating member. The element 25is recessed at 4t6 on the inner face 4L7 of the semicylindrical portion29 thereof in about the same manner as the other insulating element.

W hen the two insulating elements 23 and 24 are assembled as indicatedin Figure 10, the end wall of one element is fitted over the end of theprismatic portion of the other element and the recesses 32 and 46 formachamber t8 (clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5) for themovable contact andoperating mechanism to be described.

The insulating element 24; is provided with a bearing hole a9, centrallylocated between the fiXed contacts 30 and 31, and preferably extendingpart way through the element, while the other insulating element isprovided with a bearing hole 50 directly op posite. These bearing holesare adapted to hold a shaft 51, preferably of steel, and on this shaftthe movable parts of the mechanism are mounted.

The movable contact, shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 12 is in theform of a U- shaped bridging member 52 whose ends 53 and 5a areoutwardly directed and provided with ofiset obliquely disposed wipingsurfaces 55 and 56 adapted to fit into the concaved areas 3a and 35 ofthe fixed contacts. This bridging member may be a sheet metal stamping.The bottom 57 of the U is apertured at 58 and outwardly directed prongs59 attach the metallic bridging member to a ratchet wheel 60, made ofinsulating material and having a bearing hole 61 to mount the ratchetwheel and contact on the shaft 51.

The operating device for the movable contact, (shown in Figures 1, 3, 4,5, 13, and 14:) is in the form of a sheet metal stamping or body 62apertured at 63 so as to be pivoted on the shaft 51 and is provided witha pawl 64- cooperable with the ratchet wheel 60. The pawl is'pivotallysupported'between the body of the stamping and a spaced portion 65formed by folding the margin of the sheet up and over as shown at 66 and67. This pawl is spring pressed toward the ratchet wheel by a spring 68wound about the pawl pivot 64 and anchored against a prong or lug 69struck out of the stamping. This device is to be oscillated and therebyactuate the movable contact. A convenient mechanism for accomplishingthis operation is a pull chain, and the drawings show the same.

A pull chain may be conveniently mounted on the stamping 62, byextending the material between the folding lines 66 and 67 out beyondthe spaced portion 65, andbending it somewhat as shown at 70, a slot 71being. provided to insert one of the connectors of the pull chain 72.Other prongs 73, 7a and 75 extending outwardly from the body of thestamping 62 act as guides for the pull chain and keep it away from thecontact and pawl mechanism.

A return spring 7 6 is coiled about the shaft 51 and has one end 7 7anchored in a hole 78 in the insulating member 25, while the other end 79 is held behind a lug 80 struck out of the stamping 62. To permit theuse of a larger spring, there is provided an annular recess 81 about theshaft 51. This spring tends to restore the operating member and pawl tothe position from which they were pulled by the chain. This spring alsourges the operating member 62, and movable contact 52 together with aninter posed washer 82 to the left so as to hold the oblique wipingsurfaces 55 and 56 ,of the movable contacts in the concaved areas 34 and35. of the fixed contacts 30 and 31, or in similar concaved areas 3a and35 in the recess 32. I

An external guide for the pull chain (shown in Figures 3, 11, 16, and17) is provided in the form of a horn 83 made up from a tubular conduitmember 8a and a sheet metal attaching member 85 having oppositelyextending members 86 and 87 whose free ends are folded as shown to formhooked ends 89 and 90.

The insulating members 24 and 25 are provided with lateral concavitiesor cut-away portions 91 and 92 leading from the recesses 32 and 16respectively. These cut-away portions provide a channel 93 for the pullchain as shown in Figures 3 and 10. One member of the insulating body,here shown as the member 25, is provided with lateral recesses 9a and 95on opposite sides of the cut-away portion 92, spaced so as to receive:naraeco the hooked ends 89 andf'90of the-chain horn.

These parts-are assembled-as.- shown in Figcarried on the chain. Thespring 76 and shaft-51 are mounted in the insulating member 25, and thenthe operating device is placed in position with the spring behind thehook 80-, after which the spring is tensioned and the horn slipped intoplace. While the spring is held under tension, the washer 82 and movablecontact 52 are slipped onto the-shaft with the pawl on the ratchetwheel, and then the two insulating elements are brought together asindicated in Figure 10, the shaft 51 entering the hole 49 in the element24. The hold on the-chain is relieved and the spring IHOVGSZtlIQ partsso that the large ball 72 on the chain is stopped in the horn 83. Theparts may be fastened together in a simple -manner by passing a longscrew 96 through the base of the threaded-socket 22,-a' hole 97 in themember 24, and threading it into a nut 98 on top of the structure, andby threading the screw 45 through the socket base, an aperture 99 in theendof the insulating {member 24 and into the connecting strip 42.

The switch-is operated by the pull chain. One pull operates the member62 and parts carried thereby so that the pawl '64 turns the ratchetwheel-and contact a quarter revolution, whereupon the spring 76 urgesthe offset portions 55 and 56 into the concaved areas 3485 or 8435, asthe case may be; Releasing the pull chain permits the spring 76 torestore the operating parts to position.

It will'be notedthat the contacts of the present switch may bemade-large and rugged, and are deeply mounted in the porcelain. Theshape of the contacts is such that there is formed a small horn gap atthe time of breaking the circuit, and this diminishes sparking. Therubbing action of the wiping surfaces keeps the contacts clean.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms andconstructions, and I wish it to be understood that the particular formshown is only one of the many forms. Various modifications and changesbeing possible, I do not limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric switch having a shaft, a pair of fixed contacts, amovable contact in the form of a U-shaped bridging member,

having the :ends thereof outwardly directed and cooperable with thefixed contacts, an insulating ratchet wheel attached to the bottom ofthe U and rotatably mounted on the shaft, an operating device for thebridging member, said device being pivotally mounted on the shaftadjacent the ratchet wheel and being in'the form of a substantially flatsheet metal stamping or body, one margin of the sheet being bent atright angles and folded to provide a spaced bearing portion, a pawlmounted between the bearing portion and the body of the stamping, aspring urging the free end ofthe-pawl toward the ratchet wheel, and aspring means for biasing the operating device to predetermined position.

2. An electric switch having a shaft, a pair of fixed contacts, amovable contact in the form of a U-shaped bridging member having theends thereof outwardly directed and 'cooperable with :the fixedcontacts, an insulating ratchet wheelattached to the bottom of the U androtatably mounted-on the shaft, an operating devicefor the bridgingmember, said device being pivotally mounted on the shaft adjacent theratchet wheel and being in the form of a substantially flat sheet metalstamping or body, one'margin of the sheet being bent at right angles andfolded to provide a spaced bearing portion, a pawl mounted between thebearing portion and the body of the stamping, a spring urging the freeend of the pawl toward the ratchet wheel, and means for rocking theoperating device said means including a spring for biasing the operatingdevice to predetermined position.

3. A pull chain electric switch having a shaft, a pair of fixedcontacts, a movable contact in the form of a Ueshaped bridging memberhavingthe ends'thereof outwardly directed and cooperablewith the fixedcontacts, an insulating ratchet wheel attached to the bottom of the Uand rotatably mounted on theshaft, an operating device for the bridgingmember, said device being pivotally mounted on the shaft adjacent therachet wheel tially flat sheet metal stamping or body, one margin of thesheet being bent at'right angles and folded to provide a spaced bearingportion, peripherallydisposed elements for attaching and guiding a pullchain, a pawl mounted between the bearing portion and the body of thestamping, a spring urging the free end of the pawl toward the ratchetwheel, a pull chain mounted in said elements, and a spring means forbiasing the operating device to predetermined position. An electricswitch having a shaft, a pair of fixed contacts, a movable contact inthe form of a U-shaped bridging member having the ends thereof outwardlydirected and cooperable with the fixed contacts, an insulating ratchetwheel attached to the bottom d being in the form of a substan-- of the Uand rotatably mounted on the shaft, an operating device for the bridgingmemher, said device being pivotally mounted on the shaft adjacent theratchet wheel and being in the form of a substantially flat sheet metalstamping or body, one margin of the sheet being bent at right angles andfolded to provide a spaced bearing portion, a pawl mounted between thebearing portion and the body of the stamping, a spring urging the freeend of the pawl toward the ratchet wheel, and a spring coiled about theshaft and having one end fixed and one end attached to the operatingdevice, said spring restoring the device to a predetermined angularposition and urging the movable contact against the fixed contacts.

5. An electric switch having an insulating structure comprising twoelements each having a disk-like end wall and a prismatic portionextending from one side of the end wall, the inner faces of said portionbeing recessed to accommodate switch mechanism, the end wall of oneelement fitting the end of the prismatic portion of the other elementthereby forming an enclosing chamber, means for fastening the twoelements together, a shaft supported by said elements tranverse of saidchamber, a pair of fixed contacts carried on the inside of one element,a movable contact in the form of a U-shaped bridging member having theends thereof outwardly directed and cooperable with the fixed contacts,an insulating ratchet wheel attached to the bottom of the U- androtatably mounted on the shaft, an operating device for the bridgingmember, said device being pivotally mounted on the shaft adjacent therachet wheel and being in the form of a substantially flat sheet metalstamping or body, one margin of the sheet being bent at right angles andfolded to provide a spaced bearing portion, a pawl mounted between thbearing portion and the body of the stamping, a spring urging the freeend of the pawl toward the ratchet wheel, a spring means for biasing theoperating device to predetermined position, and external connectors forthe fixed contacts.

6. A pull chain electric switch having an insulating structurecomprising two elements each having a disk-like end wall and a prismaticportion extending from one side of the end wall, the inner faces of saidportion being recessed to accommodate switch mechanism, the end wall ofone element fitting the end of the prismatic portion of the otherelement thereby forming an enclosing chamber, means for fastening thetwo elements together, a shaft supported by said elements transverse ofsaid chamber, a pair of fixed contacts, a movable contact in the form ofa U-shaped bridging member having the ends thereof outwardly directedand cooperable with the fixed contacts, an insulating ratchet wheelattached to the bottom of the U and rotatably mounted on the shaft, anoperating device for the bridging member, said device being pivotallymounted on the shaft adjacent the ratchet wheel and being in the form ofa substantially flat. sheet metal stamping or body, one margin of thesheet being bent at right angles and folded to provide a spaced bearingportion, peripherally disposed elements for attaching and guiding a pullchain, a pawl mounted between the bearing portion and the body of thestamping, a. spring urging the free end of the pawl toward the ratchetwheel, a pull chain mounted in said elements, a spring means forhiasingthe operating device to predetermined position, and externalconnectors for the fixed contacts.

7. In an electric switch, a movable contact in the form of a U-shapedbridging memher having ,the ends thereof outwardly directed, and havinga centrally disposed hole in the bottom of the U, there being prongsprojecting from the bottom of the U, and an insulating ratchet wheelattached to tie prongs and having an axially disposed aperture ofsmaller diameter than the hole in the bridging member.

8. In an electric switch, a movable contact in the form of a U-shapedbridging member having the ends thereof outwardly directed, and providedwith obliquely disposed wiping surfaces, and having a centrally disposedhole in the bottom of the U, there being prongs projecting from thebottom of the U, and an insulating ratchet wheel attached to the prongsand having an axially disposed aperture of smaller diameter than thehole in the bridging member.

ELIAS RATNER.

